Woman charged in death of dog left for 7 hours in hot car at Walmart

Woman charged in death of dog left for 7 hours in hot car at Walmart

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. — An Alabama woman faces a felony animal cruelty charge after her dog died Wednesday, hours after it was locked inside a parked car amid brutal heat.

Stephanie Shae Thomas, 34, of Trussville, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals Friday. Police say she left her dog in a Mercedes for more than seven hours on Independence Day at a Trussville Walmart.

Multiple shoppers and bystanders tried to open the car, according to a video by Stacey Guthrie.